Container monitoring and control by unmanned aerial vehicle

Abstract

A system includes a plurality of containers and a plurality of controllers. Each of the controllers are associated with a respective one of the plurality of containers. An unmanned aerial vehicle is configured for wireless communication with the plurality of controllers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a plurality of intermodal shipping containers; 
 a plurality of controllers, each of the controllers being associated with, and configured to control a parameter of, a respective one of the plurality of containers; 
 an unmanned aerial vehicle configured for wireless communication with the plurality of controllers; and 
 a refrigeration unit in each of the plurality of containers, wherein each of the plurality of containers includes an access opening for accessing the respective controller, and each of the plurality of controllers is configured to provide refrigeration or temperature control of the refrigeration unit for at least a portion of an interior of the respective container. 
 
     
     
       2. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to perform a firmware upgrade on the plurality of controllers. 
     
     
       3. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to read temperatures from the plurality of controllers associated with the respective plurality of containers. 
     
     
       4. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is controllable from a remote location including a device. 
     
     
       5. The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to communicate data from the plurality of controllers to the device. 
     
     
       6. The system as recited in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of refrigerant circuits, each of the refrigerant circuits being associated with a respective one of the containers, each of the refrigerant circuits being controllable by the controller on the respective container, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle is configured to monitor the health of the plurality of refrigerant circuits through communication with the plurality of controllers. 
 
     
     
       7. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle includes an image capture unit configured to take at least one of photo and video of the plurality of containers. 
     
     
       8. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle includes a microphone configured to conduct a noise check on the plurality of containers. 
     
     
       9. A method of communication between an intermodal shipping container and an unmanned aerial vehicle, the method comprising:
 flying the unmanned aerial vehicle to a location of the container; 
 initiating wireless communication between the container and the unmanned aerial vehicle; and 
 exchanging data between the container and the unmanned aerial vehicle through the wireless communication, including sending control information from the unmanned aerial vehicle to a controller on the container, wherein the exchanging data includes receiving information associated with the container from a controller on the container, and the control information includes refrigeration or temperature control of a refrigeration unit for at least a portion of an interior of the container. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the exchanging data includes a firmware upgrade to a controller of the container. 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the exchanging data is associated with a refrigeration unit of the container. 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the exchanging data includes performing a health check of the refrigeration unit. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the exchanging data includes receiving return air and delivery air temperatures of the refrigeration unit. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 9 , the method comprising:
 before the initiating step, authenticating the container. 
 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 9 , the method comprising:
 communicating data associated with the exchanging from the unmanned aerial vehicle to a platform. 
 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 9 , the method comprising:
 controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle from a remote location distanced from the container. 
 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle includes a microphone, the method comprising performing a noise check on the container with the microphone.